There are a lot of misunderstandings, misinformation, and straight-up myths out there regarding rolling papers and blunt wraps. As pre-roll experts, it’s our job to help cut through the confusion.
So let’s get to it and clear up some of the biggest myths we’ve heard.
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Rice Papers
Myth: “Rice Papers” make the best rolling papers
Reality: Rolling papers are not really made with rice, and the term “rice paper” was just marketing language. If you check the classic brands that popularized the term “rice paper,” you’ll see they have removed all that language from their site and packaging.
Most rolling papers are made with wood pulp, like most traditional paper. Traditionally, “rice paper” refers to paper that is white in color, as well as the thinness of the paper.
The truth is that the white color and delicate nature of rolling papers come from the refining process, which removes a substance called “lignin” that, in part, helps give wood its brown color. The more you refine the wood during the paper-making process, the whiter and thinner your paper.
Speaking of the manufacturing process, that brings us to another misunderstanding…
Bleached Papers
Misunderstanding: Bleaching rolling papers means chlorine bleach is used in the paper
Reality: “Bleaching” technically means to remove color from something, but not necessarily with chlorine or other harmful chemicals
Like “rice paper,” “unbleached” white rolling paper is another misnomer and more marketing language. If your rolling papers or cones are white, they have been through a “bleaching” process, which in papermaking just means the whitening process, but doesn’t necessarily mean chemical bleach was used.
Paper and wood, in general, get their natural color from lignin, a substance found in the wood. The more lignin that’s removed during the refinement process, the lighter the paper. But in order to make white paper, additional steps are required.
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You could have bleached paper that is whitened with no harsh chemicals or bleached paper that is whitened using chlorine and other harmful chemicals, so the word “bleached” may not be a bad thing. But the method of bleaching can be and is super important to look into.
There are four steps to preparing the wood fibers for the paper-making process: delignification, washing, bleaching, and drying.
Again, in this case, “bleaching” is a generic term for whitening, which is done in one of two primary ways: Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) and Total Chlorine Free (TCF). The ECF process uses chlorine dioxide, the TCF process uses oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, or ozone, sometimes in combination.
Chlorine dioxide may act as a respiratory irritant, so some consumers may want to avoid rolling papers bleached with the ECF process.
Printed Rolling Papers
Myth: Printed rolling papers are perfectly safe, and soy-based inks don’t contain heavy metals or chemicals
Reality: Printed rolling papers may use inks that contain heavy metals
While printed rolling papers look cool and can create a stylish-looking joint, a new study has revealed that the ink used in printing those papers often contains substances that can be hazardous to human health when smoked.
The paper from Lake Superior State University revealed alarming levels of heavy metal contamination in printed rolling papers, raising serious questions about their safety when combusted and inhaled. And unlike flower, there are no regulations for testing on rolling papers, though some states do require the paper to be tested as part of a cannabis product’s final form.
The LSSU study showed higher concentrations of copper, chromium, and vanadium in printed papers compared to non-printed papers. Copper, for example, is used in blue and green inks, but has not been extensively studied in the context of inhalation, posing potential dangers to customers.
Palm Leaf Blunts
Myth: Palm Leaf Blunts are a perfectly safe alternative and are made from palm leaves
Reality: Palm Blunts may contain heavy metals, pesticides, and/or microbials. Plus, they are not made from palm trees or palm leaves.
Palm leaf blunt tubes are made from one of two types of leaves: Cordia and Tendu. The Cordia leaf has a dark, green color and grows across Southeast Asia and the South Pacific Islands. They are often green due to higher levels of chlorophyll. Tendu leaves, on the other hand, come from a tree found widely across Central India. It is commonly used for thin, hand-rolled tobacco cigarettes.
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The problem is that, as natural products, both Cordia and Tendu leaves can absorb heavy metals through the soil and pesticides that can be sprayed directly on them, or drift over from nearby farms. Also, organic materials like leaves and the corn husk filters contain moisture and can easily grow mold over time.
A 2021 report from California-based SC Labs found several rolling paper and palm wrap brands failing testing for pesticides.
Hemp Wraps
Myth: All hemp wraps will dry out and crack
Reality: “Hybrid” hemp wraps are a new type of hemp wrap that is designed to stay pliable and not dry out.
Because of regulations against the combination of tobacco and cannabis products, modern industry blunts are often made using hemp wraps, which provide a slower-burning, richer-tasting experience than rolling paper.
But as everyone in the industry will tell you, keeping your hemp wraps fresh and preventing cracking can be very difficult. In fact, we always recommend you use a humidor to either store them or to help bring them back to life before filling.
This is because of the way they are made. It’s actually the water molecules in the hemp wrap that hold it together and give it its strength. As those molecules dry, the hydrogen bonds disappear and the wraps become brittle, causing the paper to tear or crumble much more easily.
Hybrid hemp wrap tubes and cones are made with a higher percentage of hemp fiber than traditional hemp wraps. The changes to the formula create a hemp wrap that looks, smokes, and tastes the same as traditional hemp wraps, but gets its strength from the additional hemp fibers instead of the water molecules, so it remains pliable and fresh long after traditional hemp wraps begin to fall apart.
Rose Petal Blunts
Myth: Rose petals are safe to use as blunts
Reality: Rose petals often contain high amounts of pesticides and chemicals to preserve the plant and color
With their bright color and intoxicating scent, rose petals have become a popular alternative to traditional blunt wraps among those looking for something unique and different.
But before you go sharing that rose petal blunt with your sweetie, you should know that not everything is as safe as it may seem. Like rolling papers, there is no real testing required on rose petal wraps and cones, and because of the way roses are grown, they may be high in pesticides.
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Because most roses are grown just to be looked at, there is no real issue with the large amounts of pesticides often used on rose bushes. Additionally, roses, like palm leaves and other plants, can pull heavy metals from the soil and store them in their cells.
Pre-roll manufacturers concerned about these facts have done extensive sourcing and testing on rose petal cones and have yet to find a reliable option that will meet cannabis testing standards. You might find one in a batch that will pass testing, but it’s next to impossible to find an entire lot of rose petal cones that will reliably pass testing and be safe for customers to smoke.
It’s important for companies to not only make sure their products are as safe – and tested – as possible, but to keep customers as informed and educated on these matters as possible. It’s the only way to ensure that this industry continues to grow and prosper in the future.
*This article was submitted by a guest contributor. The author is solely responsible for the content.